Audiologists’ communication behaviour during hearing device management appointments

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this exploratory study was to describe audiologist communication behaviours during appointments for hearing device monitoring and management before and after participation in counselling skills training. Design: The study used a longitudinal design with three assessment points over 6 months. Study sample: The sample included 10 audiologists and audiology graduate students interacting in a professional setting with their clients. Results: Audiologists reported improvement in their counselling skills from pre-training to follow-up, which was consistent with objective findings that audiologist relative speaking time decreased from pre-training to post-training as well as from pre-training to follow-up. Observer-rated scores of participants’ counselling skills; however, yielded no significant differences across time. Conclusions: Some improvement was noted in audiologists’ counselling behaviour following a 1-day communication skills workshop and continued learning support. It is evident; however, that further training, such as increased training and performance feedback, is needed to maintain and enhance audiologist progress in the various aspects of counselling.

Key Words:

• Communication
• hearing device
• counseling

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Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.